Horse-detacher.



No. 787,270. PATENTED APR. 11, 1905. D. O. BRUNER.

HORSE DETAGHER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1905.

Inventor Witnesses UNiTEp STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

ATENT @FFICE.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,270, dated April11, 1905.

Application filed January 12, 1905. Serial No. 240.788.

To 1/// ll'hmit i 'IIHII/ concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID C. BRUNER, a citizeno f the UnitedStates,residing at Uaneyville, in the county of Grayson and State ofKentucky, have invented a new and useful Horsel)etacher, of which thefollowing is a specilication.

This invention relates to attachments to vehicles for enabling thedriver to instantly release the horse or horses in the event of theirrunning away or becoming otherwise fractions, and has for its object tosimplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency ofdevices of this character.

\Vith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in certainnovel features of construction, as herein after fully described andclaimed.

in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designatingcharacters,is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capableof carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood thatthe invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes inthe shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may beresorted to without departing from the principle of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

ln the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a plan view of a swingletreewith the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view, enlarged, of oneend of a swingletree with the improved attachment in projected position.Fig. 3 is a sectional detail, enlarged. Fig. 4c is an enlargedperspective view of the improved attachment.

The improved devices are employed in pairs, one at each end of thewhittletree represented at H); but as the parts are alike at each endlike designating characters are employed to denote like parts in each.

The improved attachment comprises a fer rule ll,slidable one upon eachend of the swingletree or whitiietree l0 and when in withdrawn positionleaves space for the traces (ind icated at 12) to engage the swingletreeoutside the ferrule, asin Figs. 1 and 3, and when in projected positioncoming flush with the ends of the swingletree, as in Fig. 2, and forcingthe traces free therefrom.

Mounted to swing from each of the ferrules, as by an car 13, is a link1%, having a terminal loop for enclasping the projecting end of theswingletree outside the trace, and thus supporting the latter inposition. By this means a simply constructed and easily operatedwhittletree or swingletree hook device is provided which willeffectually support the traces while the horse is traveling under normalconditions; but if the horse becomes fractious he can be instantlyreleased by simply moving the ferrules outwardly, which will push thetraces off from the ends of the swingletrce. The means whereby theferrules are thus actuated consists of an arm 15 extending rearwardlytherefrom and longitudinally slotted, as at 16, to receive a pin 17,extending into the body of the swingletree. Pivoted at 18 to theswingletree is a lever 19, pivoted by one end at 20 to the arm to andhaving a draw-cable 21 connected to the other end. The draw-cables ofthe two ferrules extend inwardly through guide-pulleys 22 on theswingletree and are united into a single drawcable 23, which will beconducted to a point on the vehicle convenient to the hand of thedriver. By this simple means it will be obvious that when required thehorse may be instantly released from the swingletree and without injuryto the vehicle or other parts.

The device may be attached to any of the various forms of swinglctreesor whittletrees manufactured without material modifications and maylikewise be adapted to any of the various forms of traces in ordinaryuse.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. Thecombination with a swinglctree of ferrules slidably disposed thereon,links movably connected to said ferrules and enclasping the extremitiesof the whittletree and supporting the traces thereon, when the ferrulesare in withdrawn position, and means operative from the rear of theswingletree for moving said ferrules in opposite directionslongitudina-lly of the same to displace said links and the tracessupported thereby.

2. The combination with a swingletree, of ferrules slidably disposedthereon, links mounted to swing from said ferrules and terminating inloops for enclasping the extremities of the swingletree and supportingthe traces thereon When the ferrules are in Withdrawn position, andmeans operative from the rear of the sWingletree for moving saidferrules in opposite directions longitudinally of thesame to displacesaid link-loops and the traces held thereby.

3. The combination with a swingletreeyof ferrules slidably disposedthereon and pro- V vided With rearwardly-extended arms longitudinallyslotted to receive holding-pins for rnovably coupling to theswingletree, links connected to swing by one end -,to said ferrules andterminating in loops for enclasping the ends of the swingletree andsupporting the traces thereon when the ferrules are in Withdrawnposition, levers intermediately pivoted to said swingletree and pivotedby one end to said rearwardly-extending arms, and draw-cables leadingfrom the other ends of said levers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

DAVID C. BRUNER. \Vitnesses:

WV. D. LI'rsEY, .J. W. BUTLER.

